Tesla is synonymous with style, elegance, and building a sustainable future.
But If you thought that the competition was lighter at Tesla in comparison to Facebook, Amazon, and Google, you’d be wrong. Did you know that Tesla had over 3 million applicants in 2021 alone?
With competition like that, you’ll need a mentor in your corner to help you land your dream job. That’s why, at MentorCruise, we dove into Tesla’s recruitment and selection process to help you learn the secrets of how to get hired at Tesla.
Why work at Tesla?
Tesla’s mission is to help the world achieve a zero-emission future through sustainable energy products. They’re one of the largest manufacturing companies for electric vehicles in the world, so there’s also a sense of prestige attached to working there.
With their level of fame and success, it’s not hard to believe they can make a real impact in bringing about positive change in our environment. In addition to cars, they also design battery energy storage systems, solar panels, and more.
High Tesla salaries
One of the perks of working for Tesla is their high annual salaries.
Tesla salaries are quite high on average according to their Indeed page. They’re a very large company so they can afford to pay their employees higher wages than average tech salaries in the US, which is $44,951 per year.
For example, Software Engineers make $133,200 per year on average while Production Supervisors make $88,289 annually.
Employee benefits
Tesla also offers a range of employee benefits, which includes a health benefits package personalized for each person’s needs.
In recent years, the company’s been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a ‘Best Place to Work’ in regards to LGBTQ Equality. They scored 100% on the Corporate Equality Index, which means they offer the same benefits to LGBTQ workers as their non-LGBTQ counterparts and reinforce policies that prevent discrimination.
As a Tesla employee, you also get the chance to have some ownership via stock purchases (using their Employee Stock Purchase Plan) and equity grants no matter your role in the company. You can even partake in their vehicle lease program to get a Tesla and receive assistance with certain expenses including gym memberships, travel costs, computer equipment, childcare, and more.
A range of Tesla careers
One advantage of working for Tesla involves their wide array of job positions. You have many Tesla careers and paths to choose from, so you can find the role that best suits your skill set. Here are the four main departments for Tesla careers:
Engineering
You can work in one of Tesla’s engineering positions which includes computer, manufacturing, electrical, and mechanical engineers. Help invent and develop high-quality vehicles and energy products for customers.
Manufacturing
Alternatively, you can work as a technician or manufacturing associate and get involved in the actual creation process. Collaborate with other technicians to build products, maintain equipment, improve operations, and ensure safety is being upheld.
Sales and service
If you’re not tech-savvy or interested in heavy labor, there’s also the option to join Tesla’s sales and service team. You’ll be dealing with customer support, answering enquiries, and helping customers purchase Tesla products. If customers have questions about repairs or wish to discuss the ins and outs of a product, you’re there to provide the necessary guidance.
General and administrative
Finally, there’s the management side of things which handle aspects such as finance, human resources, marketing, and legalities. These employees should be analytical and constantly strive to improve business operations on a global scale.
Student opportunities
Internships
Tesla offers internships all year round, where students can work alongside professional technicians and engineers to gain real work experience.
Tesla START
Tesla START is a training program aimed at 18+ students in North America, allowing them to develop and improve their technical skills. You get a mix of in-class theory and hands-on experience across 12 weeks as part of your automotive technician curriculum. At the end, you receive certifications to increase your chances of future employment.
What does Tesla look for in employees?
Tesla wants their employees to be innovative, collaborative, motivated, and reliable. Depending on what role you’re aiming for, you should also have technical expertise, great problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Tesla Hiring Process Overview
Before you can start enjoying perks like competitive salaries, ample paid time off, and flexible scheduling, you have to nail the interview. You should learn about the process and prepare to answer common Tesla interview questions.
All prospective employees must go through a rigorous five-step screening process before signing an offer letter. This can last from a week to more than a month.Here’s what you can expect during the hiring process:
- Recruiter Phone Screening
- Online Assessment
- Hiring Manager Phone Interview
- On-Site Interview Panel
- Application Results (Job Offer or No Offer)
If this process seems overwhelming, don’t worry! We’ll be walking you through the steps more thoroughly below, what they entail, and provide examples to help you nail your interview.
While a five-step hiring process can sound daunting, it’s good to know it’s a positive experience for interviewees.
How Long Is the Tesla Interview Process?
Not all positions hire at the same rate, but reports estimate that the interview process can last anywhere from one week to a month or more.
Here’s What the Interviewees Say
Despite the five-step hiring process, many interviewees rate the difficulty level of the interview as average.
Here are some comments from past interviewees:
- The questions allowed me to show my personality and work ethic
- The recruiter helped paint a picture of the company
- The recruiter was fast with turnaround
- They were down to earth
According to interview statistics from Comparably, Tesla ranks:
- Top 5% compared to similar-sized companies for its overall interview process
- Top 20% or a B+ rating for the interview experience
Tesla Interview Process Timeline
Whether you wait one week or up to four weeks, here’s the interview process you can expect depending on your position.
STEP ONE: Recruiter Phone Screening
Whether you’ve filled out an application online, received a referral, or you’ve been selected as a match for an open position by one of Tesla’s recruiters, the process starts with a quick 30-minute call.
During the call, you can expect to answer questions regarding:
- Your work history, experience, or training
- How you handle tough challenges and your problem-solving process
- Your salary expectations
The point of this brief call is to determine if you’re a fit for the position and if you have the skills and knowledge needed for the role.
STEP TWO: Online Assessment
During this phase of the interview, you’ll be tested in several ways over a seven-day period.
The tests are designed to assess your technical skills, literacy, numerical and excel understanding as well as a Hogan personality test to see if you’re a good fit for the company.
Senior positions should expect a more rigorous test over an extended time. The questions test your ability to think flexibly, be a problem solver, and use your knowledge and skills to solve the task.
There are many sites online that can help you prepare for an online assessment at Tesla; however, most don’t offer mentorship from employees that have actually gone through the process.
At MentorCruise, our mentors are employees at some of the most valued tech companies in the world. Their knowledge and experience can help you relieve the stress of challenging interview processes like online assessments.
STEP THREE: Hiring Manager Phone Interview
Once you’ve proven your technical merit through an online assessment, it’s time to talk with the hiring manager via a phone interview.
Here is a list of examples of interview questions you might receive:
- What qualities do you think fit a Tesla staff employee?
- What is the biggest challenge you foresee in this role?
- Have you ever solved a problem with little to know information? How did you do it?
- How would you change the culture of Tesla?
The goal of the interview is to assess your prior performance, address your specific technical skills and competencies, and consider your fit within the culture of the company.
STEP FOUR: On-Site Panel Interview
If the hiring manager deems you a good fit for the position based on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your cultural fit, you’ll move on to the next phase in the interview process: the on-site panel interview.
During this phase, you’ll provide a 30-minute presentation in front of a panel of Tesla’s finest that outlines the toughest problem you’ve ever solved.
Specifically, You’ll explain how you solved it and what steps you took to address the problem.
You’ll be asked many probing questions, so be sure to recall each minute detail. How you respond could be the difference between an offer letter and a rejection.
STEP FIVE: Application Result
Once you’ve completed the four steps above, the team will go over your interview results and make a decision. If accepted, your hiring manager will send an offer letter.
How to Nail the Interview Process
The interview process starts before you’re selected. Having a tailored resume that matches the skills and qualifications a company is looking for is paramount — especially when you’re trying to score an interview at Tesla.
Here’s what we suggest:
Use STAR to Tailor Your Resume
Take a look at Tesla’s job descriptions and requirements. The more you can frame your resume so it addresses the needs of the company, the better off you’ll be.
We recommend using the STAR method. It’s a great way to frame your work experience.
The STAR method stands for:
- Situation - what was the problem?
- Task - what steps did you take?
- Action - how did you solve the problem?
- Result - what was the result of your actions?
Here is a generalized example of how you could apply this on your resume:
- Situation and Task: Designed code for the backend interface to help address customer retention issues.
- Action and Result: Coordinated with the analytics team and created a new application that reduced churn rate by 25%.
Tailoring your resume to address specific job descriptions and requirements is essential to the recruitment and selection process.
Understand the Tesla evidence of excellence question
During the recruitment process, you may be asked about your evidence of excellence as proof of your expertise. This refers to anything that backs up your skills, qualifications, and experience.
Examples of evidence of excellence include:
- Qualifications or certifications: Your academic background, qualifications, and certifications are evidence of your expertise and knowledge in your field. These include licenses, degrees, diplomas, and other types of qualifications relevant to the job role.
- Accomplishments: Any achievements or awards you’ve earned showcase a high level of ability. You can note down goals you’ve accomplished, projects you’ve completed, and other notable activities that evidence your skills.
- Work experience: Your work history helps demonstrate your professional capabilities and relevant experience in the field. This includes your most relevant job titles, a list of responsibilities and tasks you underwent, and any promotions or recognition you received from previous employers.
- References: Testimonials and references from clients or ex-employers can showcase your work ethic and reliability. You can get endorsements on Linkedin, letters of recommendation, and feedback from coworkers.
The Tesla evidence of excellence question helps them find employees who have a good track record since it proves they can perform job duties and achieve high-level results. Showcasing your evidence of excellence also helps you stand out from other candidates.
Discuss Tesla evidence of excellence effectively in your interview
Now that you’ve got a list of your evidence of excellence, you must showcase them effectively in your interview to impress recruiters.
Here are some tips:
- Personalize your answers for each job interview: Different positions require different sets of skills and experience. Make sure to emphasize your most relevant skills for the job in your interview.
- Analyze job descriptions: When prepping for your interview, refer to the job description and highlight the skills or expertise they’re looking for. Then, come up with examples of where you’ve displayed those skills and practice mentioning them in your interview.
- Give specific examples: When detailing your achievements or work history, it’s important to give specific examples to further illustrate your point. Describe specific projects you worked on and what results you achieved.
- Quantify achievements with metrics or numbers: If possible, quantify your achievements with numbers or some kind of metric. For example, you can use percentages, sales numbers, completion rates, and so on.
- Include active language: Use active verbs in your interview such as created, achieved, and managed.
If you’re struggling with your interview prep, consider hiring a mentor from interview coaching services such as MentorCruise.
Build Your Network to Get Your Foot In the Door
Building a solid network is key when trying to land a challenging job like working for Tesla. There are several ways you can go about networking, but our advice is to find the style that suits you best.
Here are some ways to network right from your computer:
- Optimize your LinkedIn and Twitter pages for social proof of your job skills
- Like, tweet, share, and hashtag to provide more opportunities to get noticed
- Reach out to hiring managers and employees at Tesla and start a conversation
- Offer value whenever possible to demonstrate that it’s not a one-sided connection
By doing one or more of these networking techniques, you can build up a list of people to help you get your foot in the door.
Practice Answering Behavioral and Technical Questions
During the interview process, you’ll most likely face situations where you're asked questions about prior performance, past experiences, and your technical know-how.
The STAR technique is a great way to frame your responses in an organized and cogent manner.
Tesla Interview Questions
Here are a couple of examples of questions you may answer during an interview at Tesla, such as ‘tell me about a time you failed’. The importance here should be to use STAR to frame your response highlighting your emotional intelligence, technical skill set, and problem-solving capabilities.
Sample Question 1: Why do you want to work for Tesla?
Sample Answer: I believe in Tesla’s mission and commitment to sustainable energy. As an employee of Tesla, I would dedicate myself to this mission by using my creativity, teamwork mentality, and problem-solving each day. If given the opportunity, I would continually improve my skills and commit myself to the long-term goal of creating a sustainable future through the work we do.
Sample Question 2: When have you failed? What did you learn from it?
Sample Answer: I was promoted quickly to manage other software engineers on my team. I developed impostor syndrome and questioned my every move. At times it was paralyzing; however, I persevered and sought the help of a career counselor through my work. We met weekly to work on my impostor syndrome. The following year, our team increased proficiency by 10% and met all of our deadlines faster. I learned the power of having a plan and working with others to meet large objectives that seem scary.
FAQs
How long does Tesla take to respond to an application?
Depending on what role you applied for, the amount of time can vary. However, it usually takes Tesla 4-6 weeks to get back to you. If the hiring team is busy or there’s many applicants to go through, the process can take longer.
Does Tesla send rejection emails?
Yes, Tesla usually notifies you when you fail to get a job offer.
What kind of background check does Tesla do?
Generally, Tesla does background checks on your criminal record, driving history, and employment history.
Conclusion
The Tesla recruitment and selection process is challenging, but not impossible. With the right strategies, you can ace the five-step interview process and land your dream job.
The STAR method is a helpful tool for matching your work experience to Tesla’s job descriptions and requirements and organizing your thoughts when answering tough interview questions.
Are you looking for more coaching? We have mentors to help guide you through the hiring process. With the right mentor, you’ll nail every step of the Tesla recruitment and selection process and you’ll be on your way to a new rewarding career.